37 Superiors awarded in 2025 Junior High/Middle School contest
May 27, 2025
The Journalism Education Association announces the winners of the 2025 Junior High/Middle School National Media Contest.
243 students submitted entries in the yearbook, news publication, broadcast, graphic design and photography categories. Judging for entries took place between April 17-28.
There are 177 winning entries comprising 37 Superior, 70 Excellent and 70 Honorable Mention awards. Superior winners each receive a medal and all award winners receive a certificate.
All the competitors had their submissions evaluated by teams of judges who also provided each entry with written feedback. Those critiques are available through the NSMC website. Advisers can log in with their username and password to view their critiques.
Certificates and medals will be mailed to schools.
“The judges were impressed by the quality of the entries this year,” said Nancy Smith, MJE, JEA Contests Committee chair. “We encourage all junior high and middle school advisers to take advantage of this contest next spring, and especially look to see more student work in the areas of news design, graphic design and online packages where we had very few entries.”
If you advise a junior high or middle school publication, watch for details about the 2026 contest in January.
| Contest Name | Rating | Full Name | School Name | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcast Package News Story | Honorable Mention | Siarra Pierre Charles | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Excellent | Alice Yang | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Honorable Mention | Layla Pardue | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Excellent | Andrew Kepner | Franklin Community Middle School | Franklin | IN |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Excellent | Jake Fouch | Franklin Community Middle School | Franklin | IN |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Excellent | Nolan Fillenwarth | Franklin Community Middle School | Franklin | IN |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Honorable Mention | Cayna Craver | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Honorable Mention | Avery Parsons | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Superior | Taylor Hanna | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Superior | Adelynn Pickard | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Honorable Mention | Cayna Craver | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Honorable Mention | Noreen Shariff | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Honorable Mention | Audrey Le | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Honorable Mention | Kieran D'Arcy | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Honorable Mention | Henry Engels | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package News Story | Honorable Mention | Sean Eyle | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Honorable Mention | Derain Manuel-Rosas | Rancho Starbuck Intermediate School | Whittier | CA |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Honorable Mention | Justice Escoto | Rancho Starbuck Intermediate School | Whittier | CA |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Honorable Mention | Jason Sanchez | Rancho Starbuck Intermediate School | Whittier | CA |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Excellent | Koby Rodriguez | Armand Larive Middle School | Hermiston | OR |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Superior | Eloise Libra | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Superior | Neel Gurram | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Excellent | Layla Pardue | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Excellent | Iti Narkar | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Honorable Mention | Naia Lewen | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Honorable Mention | McKenna Popst | Franklin Community Middle School | Franklin | IN |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Honorable Mention | Emberley Martin | Franklin Community Middle School | Franklin | IN |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Honorable Mention | Analena Anorga | Franklin Community Middle School | Franklin | IN |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Honorable Mention | Tauran Epperson | Franklin Community Middle School | Franklin | IN |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Honorable Mention | Wyatt Roller | Franklin Community Middle School | Franklin | IN |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Honorable Mention | Cullen Grindstaff | Franklin Community Middle School | Franklin | IN |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Honorable Mention | Adelynn Cole | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Honorable Mention | Katy Park | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Excellent | Adelynn Pickard | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package Feature Story | Excellent | Summer Choudhry | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package Sports Story | Honorable Mention | Eric Trivino | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package Sports Story | Excellent | Elisa Casillas | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package Sports Story | Excellent | Ja'Mya Currington | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package Sports Story | Honorable Mention | Eric Trivino | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package Sports Story | Excellent | Eric Trivino | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| Broadcast Package Sports Story | Honorable Mention | Aden Cole | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package Sports Story | Honorable Mention | Jeremiah Johnson | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package Sports Story | Honorable Mention | Aiden Bloem | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package Sports Story | Honorable Mention | Julia Brunson | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Broadcast Package Sports Story | Honorable Mention | Yanbo Huang | Cranbrook Kingswood Boys Middle School | Bloomsfield Hills | MI |
| PSA/Commercial | Honorable Mention | Layla Pardue | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| PSA/Commercial | Honorable Mention | Liam Stewart | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| PSA/Commercial | Honorable Mention | Olivia Grace Luke | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| PSA/Commercial | Honorable Mention | Siarra Pierre Charles | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| PSA/Commercial | Honorable Mention | Madeline Colvin | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| PSA/Commercial | Honorable Mention | Brianna Dominique Mack | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| PSA/Commercial | Superior | Madeline Colvin | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| PSA/Commercial | Superior | Gabby Nicole Averso | Bak Middle School of the Arts | West Palm Beach | FL |
| PSA/Commercial | Honorable Mention | Lorelei Walker | Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School | Houston | TX |
| PSA/Commercial | Honorable Mention | TyKeyana Jackson | Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School | Houston | TX |
| PSA/Commercial | Excellent | Abigail Hogue | Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School | Houston | TX |
| PSA/Commercial | Excellent | Grace Jennings Mesler | Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School | Houston | TX |
| PSA/Commercial | Honorable Mention | Adelynn Pickard | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| PSA/Commercial | Honorable Mention | Taylor Hanna | Willow Springs Middle School | Lucas | TX |
| Infographic | Excellent | Gabriel Shen | Blake School | Minneapolis | MN |
| Illustration | Superior | Sylvie Fricker | Summit-Questa Montessori School | Davie | FL |
| Newspaper Front Page Layout | Honorable Mention | Gabriel Shen | Blake School | Minneapolis | MN |
| Single Inside Page Layout Design | Superior | Julia Wu | Trinity Preparatory School | Winter Park | FL |
| News Writing | Honorable Mention | Victoria Varela | Summit-Questa Montessori School | Davie | FL |
| News Writing | Excellent | Sydney Browne | Kent Denver School | Englewood | CO |
| News Writing | Excellent | Isla Penny | Kent Denver School | Englewood | CO |
| News Writing | Excellent | Ebe Nezer | Franklin Community Middle School | Franklin | IN |
| News Writing | Superior | Brianna Cruz | Animo Jefferson Charter Middle School | Los Angeles | CA |
| Feature Writing | Honorable Mention | Freya Thakar | Summit-Questa Montessori School | Davie | FL |
| Feature Writing | Superior | Avani Suri | Trinity Preparatory School | Winter Park | FL |
| Feature Writing | Excellent | Forrest Soden | Kent Denver School | Englewood | CO |
| Feature Writing | Excellent | Chloe Zaitz | Kent Denver School | Englewood | CO |
| Editorial or Column | Excellent | Paula Mila San Juan | Summit-Questa Montessori School | Davie | FL |
| Editorial or Column | Superior | Andres Pere | Summit-Questa Montessori School | Davie | FL |
| Editorial or Column | Excellent | Haydyn Freese | Franklin Community Middle School | Franklin | IN |
| Sports Writing | Excellent | Lissie Koeppe | Franklin Community Middle School | Franklin | IN |
| News/Academic Photo and Caption | Superior | Harper Bryant | Northwest Rankin Middle School | Flowood | MS |
| News/Academic Photo and Caption | Honorable Mention | Sofia Buday | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| News/Academic Photo and Caption | Honorable Mention | Riley Rohan | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| News/Academic Photo and Caption | Excellent | Ellie Rodriguez | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| News/Academic Photo and Caption | Honorable Mention | Claire Wagner | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| News/Academic Photo and Caption | Honorable Mention | Canon Spiking | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| News/Academic Photo and Caption | Honorable Mention | Anna Spears | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| News/Academic Photo and Caption | Superior | Parker Sisney | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| News/Academic Photo and Caption | Excellent | Diana Tsai | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Sports Action or Reaction Photo and Caption | Superior | Eduardo Lauchu | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Sports Action or Reaction Photo and Caption | Honorable Mention | Timothy Gray | Northwest Rankin Middle School | Flowood | MS |
| Sports Action or Reaction Photo and Caption | Superior | Natalie Pond | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Sports Action or Reaction Photo and Caption | Honorable Mention | Elle Hiryak | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Sports Action or Reaction Photo and Caption | Excellent | Eduardo Lauchu | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Sports Action or Reaction Photo and Caption | Excellent | Parker Sisney | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Sports Action or Reaction Photo and Caption | Excellent | Canon Spiking | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Student Life Photo and Caption | Superior | Amy Chagoyan | Joe Baca Middle School | Bloomington | CA |
| Student Life Photo and Caption | Superior | Jade Holland | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Student Life Photo and Caption | Honorable Mention | Nora Cooper | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Student Life Photo and Caption | Excellent | Hannah Hale | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Student Life Photo and Caption | Honorable Mention | Norah Al-Rikabi | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Superior | Roan Galloway | Richland R-1 School | Essex | MO |
| Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Excellent | Norah Al-Rikabi | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Feature/Environmental Portrait Photo and Caption | Honorable Mention | Natalie Pond | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Theme Package | Superior | Ella Choi | Cooper Middle School | McLean | VA |
| Theme Package | Superior | Nadia Cizek | Cooper Middle School | McLean | VA |
| Theme Package | Superior | Caroline Gray | Cooper Middle School | McLean | VA |
| Theme Package | Superior | Lyla Gul | Cooper Middle School | McLean | VA |
| Theme Package | Excellent | Mia Arevalo | Joe Baca Middle School | Bloomington | CA |
| Theme Package | Excellent | Aislin Navidad | Joe Baca Middle School | Bloomington | CA |
| Theme Package | Excellent | Sophia Chitica | Joe Baca Middle School | Bloomington | CA |
| Theme Package | Excellent | Brandon Tobar Rodriguez | Joe Baca Middle School | Bloomington | CA |
| Theme Package | Superior | Parker Sisney | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Theme Package | Superior | Norah Al-Rikabi | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Theme Package | Superior | Natalie Pond | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Theme Package | Honorable Mention | Nishi Patel | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Theme Package | Honorable Mention | Andrew Walper | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Theme Package | Honorable Mention | Jenna Hardy | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Theme Package | Honorable Mention | Aprielle Hart | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Theme Package | Honorable Mention | Shreemayi Channu | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Theme Package | Honorable Mention | Anya Meyer | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Theme Package | Honorable Mention | Imani Verkerk | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Traditional Spread Design | Superior | Lyla Gul | Cooper Middle School | McLean | VA |
| Traditional Spread Design | Superior | Diane Lu | Cooper Middle School | McLean | VA |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Lydia Chi | Cooper Middle School | McLean | VA |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Madison Carey | Cooper Middle School | McLean | VA |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Delaila Navarro | Joe Baca Middle School | Bloomington | CA |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Yoisy Ramirez | Joe Baca Middle School | Bloomington | CA |
| Traditional Spread Design | Superior | Reese Ennis | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Traditional Spread Design | Superior | Cammy Faust | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Traditional Spread Design | Superior | Finley Hendricks | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Traditional Spread Design | Superior | Hailey Neuerburg | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Traditional Spread Design | Superior | Sylvie Walker | Coral Academy of Science | Reno | NV |
| Traditional Spread Design | Superior | Makayla Read | Coral Academy of Science | Reno | NV |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Khadija Samir | Coral Academy of Science | Reno | NV |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Crystal Rosas | Coral Academy of Science | Reno | NV |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Sophia Silva | Coral Academy of Science | Reno | NV |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Canon Spiking | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Traditional Spread Design | Honorable Mention | Haley Shipman | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Ellie Rodriguez | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Caroline Cotner | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Savanah Daley | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Sophia Fanning | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Traditional Spread Design | Excellent | Lauren Tomaszewski | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Umbrella or Chronological Spread Design | Superior | Caroline Gray | Cooper Middle School | McLean | VA |
| Umbrella or Chronological Spread Design | Superior | Stella Scannell | Cooper Middle School | McLean | VA |
| Umbrella or Chronological Spread Design | Excellent | Crystal Rosas | Coral Academy of Science | Reno | NV |
| Umbrella or Chronological Spread Design | Excellent | Sylvie Walker | Coral Academy of Science | Reno | NV |
| Umbrella or Chronological Spread Design | Excellent | Ciara Pacheco | Coral Academy of Science | Reno | NV |
| Umbrella or Chronological Spread Design | Excellent | Makayla Read | Coral Academy of Science | Reno | NV |
| Umbrella or Chronological Spread Design | Honorable Mention | Elle Hiryak | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Umbrella or Chronological Spread Design | Excellent | Sarai Simmons | Moore Middle School | Redlands | CA |
| Yearbook Specialty/Alternative Story Package | Honorable Mention | Lyla Gul | Cooper Middle School | McLean | VA |
| Yearbook Specialty/Alternative Story Package | Excellent | Felicity Abbott | Joe Baca Middle School | Bloomington | CA |
| Yearbook Specialty/Alternative Story Package | Excellent | Yaretzy Acevedo | Joe Baca Middle School | Bloomington | CA |
| Yearbook Specialty/Alternative Story Package | Excellent | Jordan Lupher | Cresthill Middle School | Highlands Ranch | CO |
| Yearbook Specialty/Alternative Story Package | Excellent | Jonathan Hardwell | Northwest Rankin Middle School | Flowood | MS |
| Yearbook Specialty/Alternative Story Package | Excellent | Owen Prince | Northwest Rankin Middle School | Flowood | MS |
| Opening Copy Writing | Honorable Mention | Maliyah Olson | Cresthill Middle School | Highlands Ranch | CO |
| Opening Copy Writing | Excellent | Parker Sisney | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Opening Copy Writing | Excellent | Norah Al-Rikabi | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Opening Copy Writing | Excellent | Nishi Patel | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Sports Writing | Excellent | Canon Spiking | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Sports Writing | Superior | Parker Sisney | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Sports Writing | Excellent | Leah Bersuder | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Sports Writing | Excellent | Emma Lillie | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Sports Writing | Excellent | Jenna Sweet | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Sports Writing | Honorable Mention | Katie Bersuder | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Sports Writing | Honorable Mention | Kaitlyn Carder | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Sports Writing | Honorable Mention | Alicia Herter | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Sports Writing | Honorable Mention | Lindsey Nagel | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Yearbook Writing | Excellent | Crystal Rosas | Coral Academy of Science | Reno | NV |
| Yearbook Writing | Excellent | Crystal Rosas | Coral Academy of Science | Reno | NV |
| Yearbook Writing | Honorable Mention | Parker Sisney | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Yearbook Writing | Superior | Natalie Pond | Woodland Junior High School | Fayetteville | AR |
| Yearbook Writing | Honorable Mention | Anna Peavler | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Yearbook Writing | Honorable Mention | Aurora Fontichiaro | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Yearbook Writing | Excellent | Isabelle Driver | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Yearbook Writing | Excellent | Brooke Humphriss | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Yearbook Writing | Excellent | Lauren Nagel | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |
| Yearbook Writing | Excellent | Jennsyn Sweeney | Saline Middle School | Saline | MI |